Seahawks’ title season chronicled in new NFL film

Before watching an NFL Films production of his team’s Super Bowl season, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll first addressed the departure of two players who helped get them there: defensive end Red Bryant and wide receiver Sidney Rice.

The Seahawks cut Bryant and Rice last week to dump their large salaries.

Said Carroll on Monday, “Maybe we have a chance to get them back. Maybe we don’t. Well have to wait and see.”

That, of course, is dependent on the free-agent market and Rice and Bryant accepting pay cuts. But with that out of the way, Carroll, a handful of players and a large gathering of fans watched the premiere of the Seahawks’ season highlights Monday at the Cinerama Theater downtown.

The Seahawks season highlights produced by NFL Films, titled “Super Bowl XLVIII Champions Seattle Seahawks”, goes on sale Tuesday. The production is meat-and-potatoes stuff: highlights from every game and on-field audio from a handful of games that players or Carroll were wired. Here are some of the best moments:

• In what was a common theme throughout the film, cornerback Richard Sherman didn’t hold back on the sideline when assessing Seattle’s 29-3 win against San Francisco in Week Two: “I thought this was a matchup,” he shouted. “Mismatch.”

• Sherman also rattled off a series of trash-talking jabs during Seattle’s blowout win against Minnesota, including: “You’re not strong enough. You need to lift more.” At one point, he also acted like he was yawning on the field.

• In Seattle’s playoff game against New Orleans, safety Earl Thomas was screaming when he stopped, momentarily, to head butt the 323-pound Bryant.

• Carroll and quarterback Russell Wilson had an interesting exchange in the NFC Championship Game against the 49ers. Before the fourth-down play that ended with Jermaine Kearse’s touchdown catch, while deciding whether to go for it or kick the field goal, Wilson and Carroll talked about using the hard count. Wilson said the 49ers would jump because they were eager to jump all game.

• On the field before the Super Bowl, Denver cornerback Champ Bailey told some of his teammates, “They ain’t ready for this. They’re too confident.”

• At one point on the bench, after a big play from receiver Percy Harvin, Sherman remarked, “Lord have mercy, it’s Percy.”

The other thing you’ll notice: There are a lot of shots of fans. That’s not a coincidence, said David Plaut, a veteran producer for NFL Films.

“There are probably more fan shots in this Seahawks Super Bowl champions film than any of the 28 I’ve done before,” Plaut said. “It’s because they are so much a part of it. These fans insinuated themselves into the game.”

Jayson Jenks: 206-464-8277 or jjenks@seattletimes.com

Jayson Jenks: 206-464-8277 or jjenks@seattletimes.com; on Twitter: @jaysonjenks. Jayson Jenks covers the Seahawks for the Seattle Times. He also provides coverage of other Seattle-area teams throughout the year.